How to see a doctor in Spain: centro de salud, médico de cabecera and urgencias
Once you have the health card, the next question is how to actually use it: which centre is yours, how to get your assigned GP (médico de cabecera), how to book a cita, when to use urgencias and how specialists and e-prescriptions work.
How Spanish public healthcare is organised
Primary care happens at your centro de salud (health centre), assigned by your address (padrón). This is your first point of contact for almost everything.
There you are given a médico de cabecera (family doctor / GP) and, for children, a pediatra.
You do not go straight to a specialist: the GP issues a derivación (referral). For emergencies there are urgencias, the number 112, and 061 where your autonomous community uses that health line.
Who can use it
- Anyone with the right to public healthcare and a tarjeta sanitaria (TSI/SIP) — see the tarjeta sanitaria guide to get yours.
- EU citizens can use it when their healthcare right is recognised under EU coordination rules; for temporary stays, use the EHIC.
- Urgencias (emergency care) must attend everyone, regardless of status or whether you have the card yet.
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Your rights as a patient
- A médico de cabecera assigned to you and free care at the point of use.
- Emergency care for everyone; you cannot be turned away from urgencias in a real emergency.
- Electronic prescription (receta electrónica): the GP prescribes and you collect at any pharmacy with your card.
- You can request a change of primary-care doctor under regional rules, and request your clinical history.
What you need to bring
- Your tarjeta sanitaria (TSI/SIP) — or the document proving your right while the card is issued.
- ID: DNI/NIE/TIE or passport.
- Your padrón, since the centro de salud is assigned by your registered address.
- For an appointment: the health-service app, web or phone line of your autonomous community.
From registering to seeing the doctor
- Register at the centro de salud for your address (bring TSI + padrón + ID).
- You are assigned a médico de cabecera (and a pediatra for children).
- Book a cita médica through the app, website or phone of your regional health service.
- See the GP; if needed they issue a derivación to a specialist.
- Collect prescribed medicines at any pharmacy with your card (receta electrónica).
- For emergencies use urgencias or call 112; in regions that use 061, that health line can also direct you — no appointment needed.
Common mistakes
- Going to urgencias for non-emergencies instead of booking a GP cita.
- Never registering at your centro de salud, so you have no assigned doctor.
- Expecting to self-refer to a specialist without a derivación.
- Going without your card or the document proving your right.
Refused care or want to change doctor
- If you are refused emergency care, ask for it in writing and escalate — urgencias is universal.
- To change your médico de cabecera or centre, request it at the centre or via the health service; the primary-care doctor choice is applied under regional rules.
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Related guides
Key terms in this guide
Healthcare FAQ
How do I get a médico de cabecera?
Register at the centro de salud for your address with your TSI, padrón and ID; a GP is then assigned to you.
Can I go straight to a specialist?
Normally no — your GP must issue a derivación (referral) first, except in emergencies.
When should I use urgencias?
For real emergencies. For everything else, book a cita with your GP; call 112 in life-threatening cases, and use 061 where your region operates that health line.
How do prescriptions work?
The GP issues a receta electrónica; you collect the medicine at any pharmacy with your health card.
Can I be seen without the card yet?
Emergencies must always be attended. For routine care, bring the document proving your right while the card is processed.
How do I book an appointment?
Through your autonomous community's health app, website or phone line. NAVI can point you to the right one.
Can I change my doctor?
Yes — request a change of médico de cabecera at the centre or via the health service; centre/doctor choice follows regional rules.
Is it free?
Public healthcare is free at the point of use; prescriptions have a co-payment depending on your situation.
Official sources
- Ley 16/2003 de cohesión y calidad del SNS
- Ley 14/1986 General de Sanidad
- Ley 41/2002 autonomía del paciente
- Receta Electrónica del SNS (Ministerio de Sanidad)
- 112 emergency number (European Commission)
- European Health Insurance Card (European Commission)
Informational guide; healthcare is managed by each autonomous community, so steps and apps vary. Check your case with NAVI.
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This guide is general information about Spanish law, not a legal opinion on your case. Rules change and outcomes depend on your own facts and documents — check your situation before you act on it.
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